MCYS MEDIA RELEASE NO: 10/2007

DATE OF ISSUE: 04/03/2007

MEDIA RELEASE

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO SPEARHEAD SUCCESSFUL AGEING

FOR SINGAPORE
Committee will build on strong family ties and enable families to
support senior members

A Ministerial Committee on Ageing has been set up to spearhead a

whole-of-Government response to the opportunities and challenges
presented by the ageing population. The Committee will be chaired by Mr
Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, who has been
tasked by the Prime Minister to oversee ageing issues. The terms of
reference and composition of the Ministerial Committee are listed in Annex
1.

2 The Ministerial Committee aims to achieve the vision of successful

ageing for Singapore. It will build on the work of past committees on
ageing issues to create an environment where seniors can look forward to
leading healthy, active and productive lives as they grow old. The
Committee will build on strong family ties and enable the family to support
their seniors.

3 To achieve the vision, the Committee will work to enhance three

pillars for seniors - participation, health and security- and deliver these
through the following strategic thrusts:

a. Enhance employability and financial security. Enabling seniors to

remain employed and be financially independent.

b. Enable ageing-in-place. Provide a barrier-free built environment

and public transport system with essential services for the elderly
to age-in-place in the community.
 c. Provide holistic and affordable healthcare and eldercare. Ensure
that seniors in need of care have access to a seamless
continuum of healthcare and eldercare services catering to their
different needs and means.

d. Promote active ageing. Encourage seniors to age successfully by

maintaining physical and mental well-being and continuing to
contribute to society.

Figure 1 at Annex 2 illustrates the Committee’s 3 pillar and 4 strategic

thrusts.

4 The Ministerial Committee on Ageing will coordinate the efforts by

the various ministries to provide a holistic approach towards addressing
the challenges of Singapore’s ageing population and harnessing the
opportunities available to create a vibrant and meaningful environment for
successful ageing. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and
Sports (MCYS) and Ministry of Health (MOH) will provide secretariat
support to the Ministerial Committee.

ISSUED BY

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS

4 March 2007
 ANNEX 1

Ministerial Committee on Ageing

Terms of Reference

To provide strategic and policy directions to address the challenges

and harness the opportunities of Singapore’s ageing population.

To achieve the vision of Successful Ageing for Singapore by

enhancing participation, health and security for all seniors. The areas of
focus include improving barrier free accessibility; developing integrated
and affordable healthcare and eldercare services; enhancing financial
security and increasing employment opportunities for seniors; and
promoting active lifestyles and well-being of seniors.

Composition

Chairman
1 Mr Lim Boon Heng
Minister, Prime Minister’s Office

Members
2 Mr Khaw Boon Wan
Minister for Health

3 Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports

4 Mr Lim Swee Say

Secretary-General, NTUC and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office

5 Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon

Minister of State, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and
Sports

6 Mr Gan Kim Yong

Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower

7 Mr Heng Chee How

Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Deputy Secretary-General,
NTUC
8 Mr S Iswaran
Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry

9 Ms Grace Fu
Minister of State, Ministry of National Development

10 Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman

Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development
 Annex 2

Figure 1: Key Pillars and Strategic Thrusts of the Ministerial

Committee on Ageing

Promote
Active Ageing Enhance
Employability &

on
Financial Security

Se
ati

cu
cip
Successful

rit
rti

y
Pa

Ageing
Health

Enable Ageing- Provide Holistic, Affordable

in-Place Healthcare & Eldercare